Gemma Ray Announces New Album, Island Fire+free download

Gemma Ray Announces New Album Island Fire out May 29th

Catch Her On TourThis March and at SXSW

UK maverick songstress Gemma Ray has gone all out with her latest and most ambitious album Island Fire,out May 29th Bronze Rat. True to previous eclectic form, the album is a trip through Gemma’s ever-growing, over-flowing bag of tricks. From lavish orchestral alt-pop (“Bring Ring Ring Yeah”), to intimate stop-you-in-your-tracks tracks (“Flood And A Fire”), to bitter-sweet girl-group-sounds (“Put Your Brain In Gear”) to brooding psychedelia (“Make It Happen”) to a sci-fi waltz (“Rescue Me”), and much more besides. Runaway, to be released as a 10” on 4/17 (Record Store Day) , is Link Wray’s guitar laid over a cheap drum machine, but bottle-rocketed to God Knows Where with a new level of posh, courtesy of vocal harmonies galore and runaway (yes, runaway) strings. It shouldn’t really make sense. On paper it probably doesn’t. But that’s the whole point of being taken by surprise, right?

To top the album off, Gemma instigated an unprecedented collaboration with Ron and Russell Mael, also known as Sparks. In what can only be described as Sparks covering Gemma Ray covering Sparks, the end result is a Sparks re-interpretation of Gemma’s interpretation of Sparks. ENOUGH!! All you need to know is the two tracks that are the result of this unlikely meeting of minds appear on the album as bonuses, after already being released as a must-own* 7” complete with artwork by Rick Froberg (Obits/Hot Snakes). (* you’re too late)

“Blowing sugary femme-pop out of the water, Gemma Ray is untouchable” – NME